Being a lawyer is being in the business of being right?

This was going to be a blog about the future of AI. It won’t be.

Every now and then, it is important to reflect on what is at the heart of what we do in the legal profession, especially at a time when the world seems to be spinning at an ever-increasing speed.

Last week I had the opportunity to break the daily grind and I joined the DLA Piper Tech & Sourcing away day held in London as well as the Finnish Bar Association’s Attorney’s Day in Helsinki. Some great presentations, workshops, and discussions with colleagues. Both with those who have just started in the profession and those who have been around for decades. I’ll summarize and share some of my key takeaways from last week.

There will always be different ongoing work projects. As a lawyer, you will always have to focus on work. It will be with you, and it will not go away as long as you are a practicing lawyer. But you also need to focus on your career. It is not enough to do your work. If you want to grow, remember to network and learn new skills. Choose wisely the environment in which you want to do this, and always remember that the most important project is you.

I’ve been a Tech & Sourcing lawyer for more than two decades. Some things I’ve probably done right over the years and some things I would have done differently if I had the knowledge and experience I have today. However, there are a few things that have remained the same. One thing that has stuck with me is to never overpromise and never underdeliver. Act accordingly and it will take you far in the long run.  

Like many other experienced tech & sourcing lawyers, I’ve started out with software license agreements, hardware and network contracts and then moved on to complex outsourcing deals. Then came cloud services. Then AI. The one thing that remains the same is the need to constantly evolve and adapt. And as an attorney, or in-house counsel for that matter, your role is not to be just the legal advisor, but to be the strategic advisor that helps protect your client’s or stakeholder’s business case. Sometimes, that may involve guiding them through the regulatory landscape. Other times, your role may focus on knowing what strings to pull and when in negotiations.

I was asked by a younger colleague why do I do what I do for a living. 

I believe each of us may have a slightly different answer to that question. For me, being an attorney provides a certain level of independence that I like. And those who know me better, know I like to say that any day you learn something new is a good day. Other than that, I also like the occasional feeling of being the knight in shining armor that comes in to help and solve a particular issue that a client has. That provides a good feeling of accomplishment.

Being a lawyer is being in the business of being right. Have you heard this saying before? I think it is only partially true. And I hope not too many lawyers take this working principle back home to their loved ones, friends, and family. Yes, if helping the client sometimes requires you to be the smartass in someone else’s eyes, then so be it. You need to stand up for what you believe in and act in your client’s best interest. But do it in a professional manner and with good ethics. Frankly, it is quite repulsive to come across lawyers who don’t act accordingly just for a few bucks. Fortunately, it happens very rarely. As a contract lawyer, keep in mind that the deals that survive the longest tend to be the ones that are well thought out, structured, negotiated, and have some level of win-win for both parties.

Will AI change the business of attorneys and their clients? I think everybody knows the answer to this question. We at DLA Piper are not the only ones running towards the same goal when it comes to AI. However, I feel that we are well positioned and ready for what is coming in 2024. At DLA Piper, we already have an end-to-end legal service offering for AI, having supported the global forerunners in AI adoption as well as the leading AI vendors. We have our internal and external AI tools in the development pipeline. Sometimes they work as expected, sometimes they don’t. But that is the nature of software solution development work, and another thing that has remained the same for more than two decades. And as with all solutions, it is only a matter of time before it will work. Every day.  

Lastly, it was good to meet all the new and old colleagues last week. Thanks to all of you who shared your insights, viewpoints and inspired me to write this blog. Despite AI, let’s keep this a people business.